Excluisve: Soldier Recounts 4-Hour Operation Resulting in the Deaths of 29 Maoists

The night of April 15 saw a search party from the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) on patrol in the dense jungles of Hapatola in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. The operation, one of the biggest against the Maoists in recent times, involved a search and cordon operation, along with a fierce gun battle that lasted for more than 15 hours. The battle ultimately resulted in the deaths of 29 Maoists, including their top commander, Shankar Rao, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head. During the operation, three personnel were injured – two from the BSF and one from the DRG.

Despite the challenges, the operation was considered a success. BSF Sub Inspector Ramesh Chandra Chaudhary described how his platoon was the first to be shot at by the Maoists. He sustained bullet injuries but continued to direct his troops during the gun battle. The Maoists used various weapons, including Kalashnikovs, Light Machine Guns, rifles like INSAS, and other automatic weapons.

The troops from DRG and BSF planned their ascent meticulously and surrounded the Maoists. Sub Inspector Chaudhary recalled the operation, explaining how the troops camouflaged with the surroundings and cornered the Maoists to lay a cordon. The dense jungle turned into a battleground as the two sides engaged in a fierce exchange of fire. Suryakant Shrimali, a personnel from the DRG, was also injured in the encounter.

He described the operation, mentioning how his team laid a cordon from two sides to ambush the Maoists. The operation went on for almost four hours, resulting in success for their team. Despite the challenges and injuries sustained during the operation, the personnel showed remarkable determination and resilience in completing their mission.